2012 OLYMPICS: Over 50 Lawo systems used for international broadcast

More than 50 Lawo systems have been put to use during the 2012 London Olympics, with a host of international broadcasters utilising the German company’s technology.

As a key factor of the 2012 Olympics’ media exposure, broadcaster from across the globe carry feeds that reach TVs, radio systems and streaming internet programmes around the world, with a substantial portion of these signals originating in control rooms from international Lawo customers.

From Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony, to a host of sporting events, including basketball, football, athletics, badminton, handball, gymnastics, table tennis, canoeing/kayaking, cycling and beach volleyball, Lawo mc²56, mc²66, mc²90, crystal, and sapphire consoles, as well as Nova73 HD routing systems have each played a key role behind the scenes.

A number of Lawo systems can be found in use throughout the European broadcast community. German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF both deliver from the control room in the IBC (International Broadcast Centre) and rely on Lawo technology. Audio is mixed in ARD and ZDF’s Mobile Production Unit on a mc²90 and a mc²56 and added to the broadcast output in the HD control room. A redundantly designed Nova73 HD also serves as the router.

ARD Radio’s equipment arsenal comprises an mc²56 mixing console and three crystals. Meanwhile, Finnish broadcaster YLE and Swedish national broadcaster SVT, are also equipped with Lawo, utilising an mc²66MKII console, various sapphire radio and production consoles, and a Nova73 HD. Sapphires and crystals are also used in the London control rooms of Estonian broadcaster ERR. Similarly, Austria’s ORF is in London, putting a mc²66 MKII mixing console through its paces.

Lawo systems are also in use throughout Asia, North America, and Australia. Asian customers who integrated mc² consoles in their broadcast activities include Korea’s KBS. Furthermore, Australian Channel 9/Foxtel is using various mc²66 and sapphire consoles as part of its efforts. CTV from Canada is also utilising sapphires for parts of their sports coverage.

The vast majority of OB vans in use at the venues for production of national and international feeds are also equipped with Lawo mc²66 consoles.

Lawo CEO Philipp Lawo commented on the company’s work in London: “As always with big sporting events, we are on site to support our customers in the best possible way. We’re very proud of the fact that among our various customers, there are more than 50 Lawo consoles in the UK and that customers from Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America are utilising Lawo technology as part of their broadcast operations. We feel tremendous pride knowing that our consoles have been in use over the past years in many of the most important and biggest international sports events.”

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